Montgomery: Adversity has 'brought us closer'

Green Bay Packers running back Ty Montgomery co-hosted Monday's Clubhouse Live, USA TODAY NETWORK-Wisconsin’s live weekly football show. Packers center Corey Linsley was Montgomery’s guest.

Among the topics they touched on were the Packers' winning streak, running with power and running with patience. The show can be seen live at The Clubhouse Sports Pub & Grill in downtown Appleton or at clubhouselive.com.

Here are select and edited answers from the interview:

WATCH: Clubhouse Live with Montgomery, Linsley

Q: You've won four straight games and have been labeled the team no one wants to face should you reach the NFC playoffs. How fun is this right now, especially as you reflect on how much ground you've gained in a short time?

Montgomery: It's a lot of fun, obviously, when you're winning. But it means a lot to go through what we've went through as a team and then to come out on the other side like we are right now as a team. I think it has really brought us closer, and we're just going to do everything we can to try to finish this thing out.

Q: You rushed for 162 yards and two touchdowns in Sunday's win over the Bears. One of your many highlights was a 36-yard run in which you dragged defenders about 15 yards before you were finally brought down. How would you describe your running style? Do you try to emulate anyone, or are you just being you?

Montgomery: Really just being me, but I grew up watching a few guys. I grew up watching Eddie George. I used to watch Barry Sanders and Earl Campbell on the computer. And Walter Payton. One of the things I get from Walter Payton is he was always the first one up out of the pile whenever he could. Just watching guys like that – the way they finish runs, the way they break tackles, the way they make guys miss, change direction, good feet in the hole. That's what I try to do.

Q: How impressed were you with Montgomery's performance against the Bears? And how impressed have you been with how he has transitioned from wide receiver to running back?

Linsley: Yeah, that was amazing. I was pretty pumped about that. We've seen him be a straight-line runner. And obviously being a receiver, that's kind of what you've got to be. He's got the shifty moves, but to see him be patient and really wait for the holes to open up. ... Just like he said, that understanding is awesome to see. That's a huge step for a running back – to have the vision. Because vision is something you can't teach. It's innate. It's got to be learned on your own. To see him do that, to see him progress like that – that was amazing.

Brett Christopherson: 920-993-7117, or brett.christopherson@gannett.com; on Twitter @PCBrettC